Judgment Sparks Political Shake-Up As Court Sacks APC House Of Reps Candidate

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Timehin Adeleye as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu declared Abdugani Arobo the rightful winner of the APC primary election and ordered the party to recognise him as its authentic candidate.

The ruling followed a suit filed by Arobo against the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the party submitted Adeleye’s name as its candidate despite the outcome of the primary election.

Arobo had challenged the decision, arguing that he emerged victorious in the primary conducted on May 16, 2026, and was entitled to the party’s ticket.

After reviewing the evidence before it, the court held that the APC failed to make a lawful return from the primary election, noting that the documents presented by the party contained material inconsistencies.

Justice Lifu found that Arobo lawfully secured the highest number of valid votes during the primary, polling 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area.

The court consequently declared Arobo the validly nominated APC candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency and ruled that his name is the only one that can lawfully be submitted to INEC for the 2027 House of Representatives election.

The judge further directed the APC to accept and recognise Arobo as the winner of the primary election and restrained the party, its officials and agents from recognising or presenting any other person as its candidate for the constituency.

Justice Lifu also ordered INEC to reopen its nomination portal to enable the APC submit and upload Arobo’s name as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the 2027 general election.